Hutchins bound for Ireland in 2014

For its 2013-14 season, the Hutchins Consort will revisit Spain and Russia.

And it will add France, Argentina and California.

“There were many requests from audience members for more programs that musically illustrate the historical progression of a musical genre from its roots, its effect on composers and their music, and which notable musicians emerged as exponents of that particular art form,” said Cindi Young, the Consort’s executive director in an email. “(The) two programs from last season that received the most requests were ‘Gypsy Soul’ and ‘The Russians are Coming’.”

Although the Consort will return to those countries (musically speaking), it will play different repertoire than in 2012-13.

It will travel (literally) to Ireland in March, 2014, to perform a California-themed program in a series of appearances at Irish music festivals. The trip was prompted by the Hutchins’ commission of a new work from composer Kerry Hagen, who teaches at the University of Limerick in Ireland. That work will be performed in the U.S. on the ensemble’s final concert.

Directed by Joe McNalley. the Hutchins Consort is unique in that it performs on a set of eight matched, scaled violins created by the late Carleen Hutchins. (In other words, the cello-sized instrument is not a cello, but a large violin.) The close relationship between the instruments creates a unique ensemble sound.

Here is the Hutchins Consort’s 2013-14 “Fiddlers on the Loose” season: